The meaning of Zaire is the native name of the Congo river according to C.M.Doke in an article on the earliest records of Bantu written by Philippo Pigafetta an Italian mathematician. In his work on 'The Kingdom Of Congo' in Italian in 1591, he gives the Congo river its native name of Zaire. He explains the name as 'I Know'. 'I know' in Congo = NZEYE, from the verb ZAYA.Hope this helps.Ferg.